Hay Fever

Hay fever, more accurately known as allergic rhinitis) is generally caused by pollens of specific seasonal plants in people who are allergic to these substances. When these symptoms are caused by pollens, the allergic rhinitis is commonly known as "hay fever," after the fact that it is most prevalent during haying season.

Most commonly, hay fever is a reacton to air-borne plant pollens though very similar and comparable allergic reactions can also occur to mould, animal dander, dust and similar inhaled allergens. The precise trigger (and precise pollen type) that causes hay fever varies from person to person. Symptoms of hay fever include: coughing, headache, runny nose, sneezing, streaming eyes, conjunctivitis, wheezing, impaired sense of smell, itching nose, throat, eyes, skin (or any area exposed to the allergen).

One part of alleviating hay fever is determining which specific antigen(s) trigger the reaction. This is generally done by allergy testing or which skin testing is the most common method. Tests can include tradermal, scratch, patch, or other tests. Less commonly, the suspected allergen is dissolved and dropped onto the lower eyelid as a means of testing for allergies. In individuals who cannot undergo skin testing the RAST blood test may be helpful in determining specific allergen sensitivity. However, the only certain means of preventing hay fever is to stay away from the substance that's causing the allergic reaction. Essentially for a pollen sufferer this means staying indoors with windows and doors closed, especially when pollen levels are highest (in the morning and evening).

The possible treatments are many and varied but include fast-acting strong antihistimines such as drugs including chlorphenamine which reduce the histamine loading in the body and thus alleviate the symptoms caused by allergies. Also corticosteroid nasal sprays and 'allergy shots' where the allergen itself is given in repeated doses as an attempt at desensitization.

For more information see: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/medicine/hay_fever.html